Bemidji State 83 Wayne State 79
Bemidji State's Sydney Epema scored a career-high 29 points on seven three-pointers to lift the host Beavers in a 83-79 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win over Wayne State Sunday afternoon in Bemidji, Minnesota, offsetting a 33-point, 11 rebound performance by WSC sophomore Ashley Arlen. BSU improves to 9-3 overall and 3-3 in the NSIC while WSC slips to 9-3 overall and 2-3 in league play.
The Wildcats got off to a strong start in the game, taking a 14-8 lead with 14:45 to play in the first half following a three pointer by Ali Schwartzwald. Bemidji State then went on a 14-1 run over the next 2:10 to take a 18-15 lead. Later in the first half with BSU leading 28-27, the host Beavers scored eight straight points to take their biggest lead of the game at 36-27 with 5:39 left in the first half following a three pointer by Sydney Epema. With WSC still trailing 43-35 with 2:09 to play in the first half, WSC closed the first half strong and capped by a Ashley Arlen three point play with eight seconds left in the half, WSC trailed by only one point at halftime 46-45.
Early in the second half, WSC used an 11-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 66-59 with 11:52 to play following a pair of free throws by Alyssa Fischbach. However, Bemidji State responded with 9-2 scoring spurt to even the score at 68-68 with 9:16 remaining. After Wayne State's Clare Duwelius scored five straight points on a three pointer and a pair of free throws to put WSC in front 73-68, BSU came storming back and scored nine straight points on a trio of three pointers to take a 77-73 lead with 4:28 left. Duwelius sank a pair of free throws to tie the score at 77-77 with 2:10 to play and that would be as close as WSC would get.
Bemidji State's Shannon Thompson and Sydney Epema each sank two free throws to put the Beavers in front 81-77 with 50 seconds left. Mara Hjelle sank a jumper with 43 seconds for WSC to cut the Beaver lead to 81-79 and WSC then forced a shot clock violation on Bemidji State to get the ball back with 12.8 seconds to play. The Wildcats worked the ball inside to Ashley Arlen, who could not make the jumper, and the Wildcats had to foul Bemidji State's Jessie Althoff with 2.2 seconds to play. Althoff then made two free throws to seal Bemidji State's 83-79 win.
Wayne State's Ashley Arlen led all scorers by pouring in 33 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocks for her fourth double-double of the season. The sophomore from Cascade, Iowa was 9 of 21 from the field, 4 of 6 from the three point line and 11 of 15 at the free throw stripe. Clare Duwelius also reached double digits for the 'Cats with 15 points.
WSC shot 37.3 percent from the field, making 22 of 59 shots. But WSC was just 7 of 26 (26.9%) in the second half. The 'Cats were 11 of 22 from the three point line and 24 of 30 (80%) from the charity stripe.
Bemidji State's top scorer was Epema with career-highs of 29 points and seven three pointers. Shannon Thompson added 13 points and Emily Kaus contributed 10 for the Beavers. BSU made 27 of 60 shots from the field for 45 percent, making 11 of 26 three point shots along with 18 of 19 free throws. The Beavers held a slight 40-37 rebounding advantage over WSC as Epema and Jessie Althoff accounted for seven boards apiece for BSU while Arlen led all players with 11 caroms for Wayne State.
Wayne State returns home for Northern Sun Conference games next weekend, hosting Minnesota, Crookston Friday night at 6:00 p.m. and MSU Moorhead Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
